Who knows anything about 8630/8730/8830 Fords?

[multi power]

Budget has a ceiling of 20k really. Out of interest does the 6180 have the same gearbox as a 399? Neighbour has had massey as long as I can remember but they've had a small amount of trouble with theirs..something about a spring breaking in the gearbox meaning they can't select top gear? Or the splitter doesn't work or something. Requires the tractor splitting just to sort it. Suprises me about the Class to be honest, worked for a contractor on an arion 640 stacking straw and apart from the door handle mechanisms falling to bits and a nasty clutch it was good. Where in the country are you Oh Deere?

6180 totally different to 399

 

[The1987]

In what way? I'd know my way around a 35x or a grey/gold but know nothing about the newer bigger ones

 

[ashmore]

I'm selling a John Deere 6920 in a few weeks. 6100ish hours, front links, 90% tryes, 40k. Yours for 24k. Been a great tractor.

 

[Oh Deere]

Claas 816 and 640 are two competely different animals.
You have a good budget and if you can stretch to the £15-20,000 bracket then you could have a Claas 697 or high houred 640. John Deere 20 series with a few hours on the clock Massey 6290 , McCormick MTX120 -150
New Holland TM . These tractors would be more suitable to the type of work your hoping to do.

 

[Thomas5060]

@Andy044 might have a TM140 for sale that might suit

 

[multi power]

In what way? I'd know my way around a 35x or a grey/gold but know nothing about the newer bigger ones

Totally different design, 399 is just a big 35 , allbeit with a stupid shuttle box

 

[Bramble]

Used to have a 8730 dual power here a few years ago. Big, heavy, took half a field to turn round but was great for draft work. Not a lot of horsepower in a big tractor compared to more modern, compact ones.

The gearbox was a bit of a pain with only 2 splits. Changing gear was
a bit of pain and usually involved you coming to a dead stop. The turbo went on it which was a bit expensive.

Ended up selling it for more than I paid for it after about 5 years.